Why More Trees are Falling in NYC
Image courtesy of Art of Backpacking under Attribution 2.0 Generic Deed, resized to 700 x 391 pixels.
It goes without saying that fallen trees are one of the leading causes of power outages, even in NYC. And the sad reality is that the percentage of trees that are falling and causing outages is on the rise, especially in New York City.
Snapshot of the Worsening NYC Tree Situation
New York City, like any urban environment, relies on its trees to combat pollution, mitigate the urban heat island effect, and improve aesthetics. However, the increase in severe weather, coupled with the unique challenges of growing trees in urban environments in general, is causing problems.
The data paints a concerning picture. A study by the NYC Parks Department revealed a noticeable increase in storm-related tree failures following major weather events in recent years. In fact, the number of workorders completed by the NYC Parks Dept. for fallen or damaged trees has more than doubled the first 7 months of 2026 compared to the first seven months of the previous 4 years (11,020 workorders from Jan.-Jul. 2026 vs. an average of 5,446 per year during these months the previous 4 years).
The Parks Department’s Chief of Forestry Operations, Adriana Jacykewycz, recently had this to say: “We are seeing more frequent severe storms resulting in greater damage to our canopy and along with that we’re also seeing rising temperatures and that affects the species that we choose.”
Beyond the immediate impact of severe weather, urban environments present a unique set of hurdles for tree survival and growth – limited soil volume and the proliferation of underground infrastructure restricts root development, pollution from traffic and industry can damage foliage and inhibit growth, and the “urban heat island” effect, where cities are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas, adds to the stress.
All of this presents challenges for the electric utilities operating in the city, like ConEd. Unfortunately, the utilities’ hands are tied because the city itself needs to address the issue by, for example, planting species better adapted to urban conditions, improving soil management and watering practices, and increasing tree inspections to identify at-risk trees before they fall. For ConEd’s sake, let’s hope NYC can start improving the city’s tree situation sooner rather than later.
